For thousands of years humans have enjoyed the taste and nutrition of fermented foods and drinks. We rely on the transformative, almost magical power of fermentation to preserve and improve all sorts of food, making them tastier, more digestible, and more appealing. Author Sandor Katz takes readers on a whirlwind trip through the wild world of fermentation. The book is divided into chapters that focus on particular types of food, and Katz provides readers with delicious recipes--some familiar, others exotic--that are easy to make at home, including vegetable krauts and kimchis; sourdough breads and pancakes; miso and tempeh; beers, wines, and meads; yogurt and cheeses. The recipes provide a veritable smorgasbord of tastes, like homemade tempeh, sauerkraut, and borscht, along with a basic description of yogurt and cheese-making, complete with vegan alternatives. Whether you prefer to wash down your meal with Elderberry wine or Nepalese rice beer, there's something here to satisfy any palate. Katz, a leading expert on the history of these foods, has written a revolutionary and informative culinary guide he calls "a cultural manifesto." He has experimented with many forms of fermentation and has developed and collected a wide range of techniques and recipes from around the world.

Sandor Ellix Katz is the resident steward of Short Mountain Sanctuary, an intentional community located in rural Tennessee. As someone living with AIDS, Katz has found that "living" fermented foods have helped to support his health. He is an impassioned and outspoken advocate of the benefits that these natural, traditional, and above all "real" foods have to offer."Wild Fermentation takes readers on a tour of fermented foods from around the globe--many of them delicacies available at Zabar's--and describes techniques for making them at home. For me the book was a nostalgic journey, reminding me of traditional foods I knew in my childhood, which are rarely found today. This is a book that will fascinate and inspire food lovers."- Saul Zabar